Nostalgia Kinky

To quote my man Johnny Thunders, some people are literally “born to lose.” Take the pathetic thief played brilliantly by Tsunehiko Watase, who briefly gets the chance to be a big shot for the mob before his fate comes a calling in Sadao Nakajima’s Aesthetics Of A Bullet (1973). Recently released on Blu-ray from Radiance, this electrifying and frenetic crime thriller is a highly rewarding watch about a guy unable to come to terms with the fact that he’s destined to lose at life.

Beginning with a frenzied opening sequence set to the volcanic, acidic music of Brain Police, Aesthetics Of A Bullet doesn’t waste a moment grabbing the audience by the throat from the get-go. Rarely letting up in its intensity for its just under 100-minute run-time, Aesthetics Of A Bullet is a corrosively powerful film that looks just swell on this new Radiance Blu-ray.

Sadao Nakajima began directing films nearly a decade before this fine 1973 work. I just recently watched his Japanese Godfather films, but still mostly think of him as the man who worked on some of Japan’s most memorable exploitation films of the early seventies, like Girl Boss: Escape From Reform School. He’s in fine form behind the camera here, crafting a concise and detailed crime film with one memorable moment after another.

While it doesn’t look like a huge budget was at the production’s disposal, Aesthetics Of A Bullet is a great-looking film, thanks to the cinematography courtesy of Toshio Masuda, who often worked with Nakajima in this period. The film’s sound design is also used to great effect, heightening the sense of urgency as it closes to its unavoidable conclusion.
After all, some people were just born to lose.

Fans of Japanese cinema from the seventies and cult actress Miki Sugimoto will want to rush out to get this Radiance edition of Aesthetics Of A Bullet. Extras with this OBI stripped Reversible sleeve limited edition include a nice booklet packed with essays as well as an archival interview with the director, and two additional newly produced interviews are also on hand. Not amongst the most packed Radiance releases, but this is a very nice release for a special film. Big recommendation.
Available from MVD.

-Jeremy Richey, June 2026-